Device for preventing refilling of bottles



(No Model.)

W. J. BRYAN. DEVICE FOR PREVENTING REPILLING OF BOTTLES. No. 593,194.Patented Nov. 9,1897.

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XVILLIAM J. BRYAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DEVICE FOR PREVENTING REFILLING OF BOTTLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 593,194, dated November9, 1897'.

Application filed January 29, 1897- Serial No. 621,139. (K0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, XVILLIAM J. BRYAN, of Chicago, Oook county,Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devicesfor Preventing the Refilling of Bottles, of which I declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of thisspecification.

My invention is designed to be used in bottles which, by theirconfiguration or by the imposed stamp or label, become known asreceptacles for a manufacture of particular type, properties, orexcellence, it being frequently the case that bottles of suchcharacteristics are refilled with a spurious or inferior liquid andplaced upon the market to the great injury of their owners ormanufacturers.

My invention, as will appear from the description following and from theaccompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts, will absolutely prevent a drop of liquid fromentering the bottle in connection with which it is used, although itwill offer little resistance to the removal of the contents.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a section of a bottle, partly cut away,showing my invention in place therein. Fig. 2 is a perspective of theupper portion of my device, and Fig. 3 is a perspective of the lowerportion thereof.

The bottleneck A is formed or bored preferably with a slight decrease indiameter at or near its inner end, as at a in Fig. 1. After the bottlehas been filled there is inserted a stopper or plug composed of threeparts B O D. Each of the upper and lower portions B and D is providedwith an annular flange or ring, as at b and f, which is designed toengage with the interior of the bottle-neck to prevent the displacementof the device after it is in position. In order to make thisdisplacement impossible, I may use a spring or springs g, set in annularrecesses in either or both of the said parts B and D, and when thedevice is in proper position engaging with corresponding recesses in theinterior of the bottie-neck A. The same end may be attained or furtheredby the use of any suitable cement which is odorless and tasteless.

The upper portion A is, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, composed of the upperhead or flange b and the lower cylinder or cup b, which is closed at itsupper or flange end. Through the head or flange 1) are circumferentialslots or grooves b ,through which air or liquid may flow from the spaceE around the periphery of the cylinder or cup Z), as is shown in Fig. l.The lower portion D of the device consists also of a head or flange f,which, as I have stated, engages with the inner surface of thebottle-neck, and a cylinder (1, which is of a diameter considerably lessthan that of the cylinder 1) of the upper portion B of my device, andinto which it projects when the two parts are in proper position. Thecylinder (1 is open at both ends. Inside of its lower end, as is shownin Fig. 1, is a ring or annular shelf e, upon which is seated the ballor valve 0, which is free to'move within the cylinder d, and whichcompletely closes the lower end thereof when the bottle-neck is in theposition shown in Fig. l. The periphery of the upper end of the cylinder(Z is serrated, as at (1 cl in Fig.

When a bottle having a neck whose interior diameter is slightlydiminished at its lower end, as shown in Fig. 1, has been filled, thedevice, consisting of parts substantially like A B 0, preferablytreated, as at b and f, with a suitable odorless and tasteless cement,as above described, is pushed down into the lower end of the neck. Thefarther downward movement of the device is prevented by the narrownessof the neck at its lower end, and its withdrawal is prevented, as I haveindicated, by springs g g, by cement, or by any other suitable means. Ifthe bottle be inverted, it is evident that the ball or valve 0 will fallfrom its seat 6 c to the closed end Z1 of the upper portion of thedevice, thus permitting the contained liquid to flow through the hollowcylinder cl, out at (1 cl, into the larger cylinder Z), thence throughits open lower end into the space E and out through the slots 19 to themouth of the bottle. If, however, an attempt is made to pour or forceany liquid back into the bottle, the valve 0 will fall or be forced backupon its seat 0 e, and thus prevent it. This valve 0 cannot be displacedor removed, as

it is surrounded by the cylinder d, which is closed at its upper end bythe head I) of the springs g g, if used, are so placed, as is shown inFig. 1, that the liquids cannot come in contact with them.

It is evident that the parts 13, O, and D may be of any desirable shape,the forms assigned to them, respectively, herein being typical only andused for convenience of reference and description.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is In a bottle-neck, the combination oftwo cylinders of different diameters, the smaller one surrounded for aportion of its length by the larger, a ball normally seated upon anannular seat inside of said smaller cylinder, lateral outlets near theupper end of said smaller cylinder, an outlet at the lower end of saidlarger cylinder, a head closing the upper end of said larger cylinderand provided with slots opening into the space outside of the peripheryof the said larger cylinder, together with means for preventing thedisplacement of the said cylinders; substantially as and for thepurposes described.

WILLIAM J. BRYAN.

Witnesses:

J. W. \VILLIAMS, J OHN II. STAPLES.

